Batch ’81 (Dir. Mike de Leon, Philippines, 1982)
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mike de Leon and hailed as one of the greatest Filipino films of all time, Batch ’81 is groundbreaking psychological drama: both an unflinching study of sadomasochistic college fraternity traditions, and a camp metaphor for life in the Philippines under the Marcos regime.
1 Girl Infinite (Dir. Lilly Hu, USA, Latvia, Singapore, 2025) – UK Premiere
Lilly Hu directs and stars in this vivid portrait of girlhood, teenage love, and frustrated desire. In Changsha, Yin Jia and Tong Tong have carved out a life together, but when Tong Tong begins a relationship with a drug dealer, the devoted Yin Jia is prepared to sacrifice all that she has.
Crazy Love (Dir. Michio Okabe, Japan, 1968)
Michio Okabe’s underground film was shot on 16mm in Shinjuku in 1968, and documents the radical spirit of Japan’s creative and artistic scene in those years. Structured as a collage of diverse activities and performers, Crazy Love is a testament to a liberated, experimental moment in art and film.
Some Nights I Feel Like Walking (Dir. Petersen Vargas, Philippines, 2024)
Following the death of his boyfriend, the teenage Zion runs away from home and meets a group of street hustlers at a Manila bus terminal one night. Award-winning director Petersen Vargas conjures up an edgy and erotic nightscape in this lyrical exploration of desire, home, and belonging.
Queer East: On the Road 2025 nationwide tour takes place October to December in the following cities (tour cities and venues TBC and subject to change): Chester, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham, Bradford, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham.
With the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK.
Please keep an eye on the Queer East Festival website for further announcements:
